Security Incidents in Democratic Republic of Congo: Trends and Patterns

In the Dominican Republic of Congo... 107 humanitarian workers have died, 129 humanitarian workers have been wounded, 212 humanitarian workers have been kidnapped.

1 Executive Summary

This analysis examines security incidents affecting humanitarian operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1996 to 2025, revealing significant patterns and trends. Key findings include:

  • Political transition volatility: Security incidents peaked dramatically following the 2019 political transition, with incident levels reaching unprecedented heights in 2020.
  • Kidnapping prevalence: Unlike other conflict contexts, kidnapping emerges as the predominant attack type, reflecting armed groups’ tactical choices in the DRC.
  • Ambush vulnerability: Security incidents most frequently occur during ambushes, highlighting the risks associated with movement through the challenging terrain of eastern DRC.
  • Nationals at highest risk: Congolese humanitarian workers face disproportionately higher security risks, particularly from kidnapping, compared to international personnel.
  • Geographic hotspots: Road networks and transportation routes represent the most dangerous operational environments, requiring specialized security approaches.

These findings have critical implications for humanitarian operations, protection strategies, and security risk management in the complex and evolving DRC context.

2 Background: The Conflict

2.1 Historical Context

The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo represents one of Africa’s most complex and enduring crises. Rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, the violence has evolved through two major regional wars—the First Congo War (1996-1997) and the Second Congo War (1998-2003)—which collectively resulted in millions of deaths. Despite formal peace agreements, eastern DRC has remained unstable, with over 120 different armed groups competing for territory, resources, and influence in the mineral-rich regions of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces.

2.2 Recent Escalation

In early 2025, M23 rebels, backed by Rwandan troops, captured Goma in eastern DRC, killing between 900-2,000 civilians and triggering mass displacement. This represented the culmination of escalating violence that began with M23’s resurgence in 2022 and their steady territorial gains throughout 2023. The situation had already deteriorated significantly following DRC’s contested December 2023 elections, which sparked nationwide unrest. During 2024, the humanitarian situation worsened dramatically, with:

  • 358,000 newly displaced people
  • 30% rise in violations against children
  • Failure of the U.S.-brokered peace agreement from late 2023
  • Intensification of conflict despite international diplomatic efforts
  • Severe humanitarian access constraints in M23-controlled territories

Map of Incidents

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Make this Notebook Trusted to load map: File -> Trust Notebook

3 Temporal Trends in Security Incidents

3.1 Incident Frequency Over Time

Figure 1: Security incidents

4 Nature of Security Incidents

4.1 Predominant Attack Types

Figure 2: Most common types of attacks

4.1.1 Analysis of Attack Methods

This bar chart reveals that kidnapping and shooting are the predominant attack methods in the DRC conflict. Bodily assault represents the third most common tactic. The high prevalence of kidnappings aligns with documented tactics by armed groups in eastern DRC, particularly by militia groups seeking ransom or using abductions to intimidate local populations and establish territorial control.

4.2 Attack Contexts

Figure 3: Security incidents by attack context

4.2.1 Analysis of Attack Contexts

The prevalence of ambushes reflects the tactical approach of armed groups operating in the DRC. The high number of ambushes aligns with the geographical characteristics of the conflict zone, where dense forests and limited road infrastructure create ideal conditions for surprise attacks by M23 rebels and other armed groups. The substantial number of unknown contexts points to the challenges in documenting incidents in remote areas with limited monitoring presence.

5 Human Impact of Security Incidents

5.1 Casualties by Category

Figure 4: Total casualties by category

5.1.1 Analysis of Casualty Patterns

The significantly higher rate of kidnappings among nationals compared to other casualty types reflects a tactical choice by armed groups in eastern DRC, who frequently use abductions to control territory, extract resources, and recruit fighters. This pattern aligns with reports from UN agencies documenting extensive use of kidnapping by the various groups. The disproportionate impact on nationals versus internationals highlights how Congolese civilians bear the overwhelming burden of the conflict. source

6 Major Incidents

6.1 Top 5 Most Impactful Security Incidents

Table 1: Most impactful security incidents (by total affected)
Year Location Total Affected Killed Wounded Context Actor Type
1978 2015 Road 14 0 0 Ambush Unknown
5 1997 Unknown 10 10 0 Combat/Crossfire Non-state armed group: National
821 2009 Home 8 0 8 Raid Unknown
985 2010 Unknown 8 0 0 Unknown Non-state armed group: Subnational
2220 2017 Road 7 0 1 Ambush Non-state armed group: Unknown

6.1.1 Analysis of Major Incidents

The table reveals a pattern of security incidents in the DRC spanning two decades (1997-2017), with road attacks being most frequent, suggesting the particular vulnerability of transportation routes in the conflict zone, while the deadliest incident occurred during the 1997 First Congo War period with 10 fatalities.

For more detailed information on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline, see the Council on Foreign Relations Conflict Tracker.

7 Conclusions and Recommendations

7.1 Key Findings

This analysis of security incidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo reveals several critical patterns and trends:

  1. Political transitions impact security: Major surges in security incidents coincided with political transitions, notably after Tshisekedi took power in 2019, suggesting internal instability during power shifts.

  2. Kidnapping as primary tactic: Unlike other conflict zones, the DRC shows a distinct pattern of kidnappings as the predominant means of attack, reflecting armed groups’ strategic priorities for funding and control.

  3. Ambush as primary context: Most security incidents occur during ambushes, highlighting the tactical approach of armed groups exploiting the region’s challenging geography and infrastructure limitations.

  4. Disproportionate impact on nationals: Congolese nationals face significantly higher risks of kidnapping compared to internationals, underscoring the unequal exposure to security threats.

  5. Geographic vulnerabilities: Road networks and transportation routes emerge as particularly high-risk areas, with the majority of major incidents occurring during movement.

7.2 Recommendations

These findings suggest specific approaches for operating in the DRC context:

7.2.1 For Security Planning

  • Implement comprehensive journey management protocols with real-time risk assessments
  • Establish robust communication networks with regular check-in procedures during movements
  • Develop specific anti-kidnapping protocols and train staff on prevention and response
  • Consider armed escorts on high-risk routes where appropriate and legally permissible
  • Establish clear security thresholds that trigger operational suspensions

7.2.2 For Humanitarian Organizations

  • Balance operational presence with a thorough understanding of conflict dynamics in each area
  • Invest in community acceptance strategies by engaging with local leaders and communities
  • Consider remote programming models in areas with highest kidnapping risks
  • Prioritize national staff security with equal investment in protection measures
  • Develop context-specific security training focusing on ambush prevention and response

7.2.3 For Policy Development

  • Advocate for protected humanitarian corridors in high-risk areas
  • Support enhanced coordination mechanisms for security information sharing
  • Engage with donors on realistic security costs in project budgets
  • Develop systematic approaches to engaging with armed groups for humanitarian access
  • Promote accountability for attacks against humanitarian workers

7.2.4 For Future Research

  • Investigate the relationship between mineral resource extraction and security incidents
  • Analyze the effectiveness of different security approaches in reducing kidnapping risks
  • Examine the long-term trends in security following major political transitions
  • Study the impact of UN peacekeeping presence on humanitarian security incident patterns
  • Research community-based protection mechanisms that have proven effective in the DRC context